Safety razor



T. L. SMITH SAFETY RAZOR May 10, 1932.

Filed Nov. 18, 1950 Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THEODORE L. SMITH, 01? CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GILLETTE SAFETY RAZOR COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SAFETY RAZOR Application filed November 18, 1930. Serial No. 496,445.

This invention relates to improvements in safety razors and blades and one object'of the invention is to provide an improved blade which can be used in a plurality of different style razors and which, when used in myimwherein the blade is provided with three centrally located stud-receiving holes. In the new blade of my invention, I retain the central hole as in the old blade but I considerably enlarge the two outer holes to fit two relatively large and cooperating studs provided on my new razor. I furthermore provide tabs extending inwardly from the margin of one or both of the larger blade holes to a point corresponding to the circumference of the smaller stud holes heretofore provided in such blades. When this new blade is assem bled in the old style razor, these tabs, in conjunction with the center stud hole of the blade, will serve to accurately locate the blade in shaving position on the razor studs.

My invention furthermore comprises a new and improved razor having a pair of relative 1y large blade-locating studs to fit the said larger stud-receiving holes in my new blade. The outer'portions of these studs which are in position to engage the above-mentioned tabs on the blade are of smaller proportions whereby, when the blade is initially placed on the studs, they engage these tabs and locate the blade in alignment with the cap. Intermediate these portions and the main body of the studs are shoulders which are adapted to engage and upset or break off these tabs when the razor parts are clamped to shaving position, thus markingthe blade as having been used. Such a new safety razor blade for the double function defined and a new razor cooperating therewith to perform the blademarking function comprises important features of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain specific embodiments of my invention but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that' the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended hereto being relied upon for that purpose.

Referring to the figures of the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of my new razor;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough, a portion of the handle being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of my new blade positioned on the razor cap;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the as sembled cap, blade and guard taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the blade shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cap shown in Figs. 1 to 4;

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of two other forms of caps which may be used; and

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate two modifications in the blade.

As stated above, my invention has two main objects, namely to provide a new and 'improved safety razor blade which can be used in a plurality of different style razors and to provide a blade and razor construction wherein the blade, when clamped into shaving position in the razor, is so deformed or broken without in any manner impairing the utility of the blade as to permanently mark the same as having been used. It is well known that old safety razor blades are collected, resharpened, and sold to the public as new blades. This fraudulent practice is detrimental to both the public and blade manufacturer and one object of my invention is to provide a new safety razor blade which will remedy this situation. My invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings will now be described.

The razor illustrated comprises a cap 10, a guard 12, a blade 14 between the cap and guard, and a handle 16. The handle has a knurled tubular portion 18 threaded at its inner end to a stud 20 projecting from the cap and tightening of this portion is effective to clamp the blade between the cap and guard. Also projecting from the inner face of the cap are two blade locating studs 22, each comprising a relatively large base portion 24, a reduced outer portion, and an intermediate beveled or shouldered portion. The guard 12 has two corresponding holes for receiving the outerredueed ends of the studs and larger countersunk recesses 28 about the holes for receiving the larger base portions of the studs. The engagement of the reduced portions of the studs Within the holes of the guard in conjunction with the engagement of the stud 20 within a hole in the guard serves to accurately locate the guard on the cap.

The blade 14, shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, is centrally perforated at 30 .and also perforated at 32 in the same locations as is the well-known Gillette safety razor blade of this type, these perforations 32, however, being somewhat larger than have been the usual and corresponding perforations in these blades. It will be noted that av relatively small tab 34- extends partially into each of these holes and each of these tabs is of such length that its inner end is located in what would have been the margin of the hole had it been punched to the usual stud receiving size. This is illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5 which show the usual stud receiving perforations which have heretofore been made in this type of blade.

The outer reduced ends of the studs 22 are preferably of a size corresponding to the correspondingly located studs provided on the well-known Gillette razor of this type. When the blade is placed on the cap, as shown in Fig. 3,. the engagement of the stud 20 in the hole 30 locates the blade longitudinally of the cap and when the studs 22 enter the holes 32 the ends ofthe tabs 34 engage the outer reduced portionseof the studs and thereby locate the blade transversely. A five-point contact location of the blade is thereby produced, as is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. Theguard is located by its engagement with the cap stud and tightening of the threaded sleeve 18 clamps the blade between the cap and guard. The marking of the blade to indicate its used condition'is performed at this time and this operation is illustrated in Fig. 4.

' The holes 32 in the blade and the corresponding recesses 28 in the guard are of a size to fit and receive the base portions 24 of the cap studs. Clamping the blade between the cap and guard draws the studs 24 into the holes 32 and recesses 28 and bends or upsets the tabs 34, as shown in Fig. 4. The construction is preferably such as to entirely break the tabs from the blade but, if desired, the tab may be bent only out of the plane of the blade. These results depend upon such conditions as the temper of the tabs 34 and the size of the stud portions 24 relatively to the holes 32 and recesses 28.

As above stated, the reduced end portions of the studs 22, as shown in Fig. 3, are of a size corresponding to, the correspondingly located studs provided on the well-known Gillette razor of this type. It Wlll,-tll818- fore, be clear that this blade will fit such razor in the same manner as it fits these stud corresponding to the base portion 24 of stud 22. The opposite sides of these studs are, however, grooved at 44 to receive the tabs 34. These grooves are deepest at their outer ends and the bottoms thereof gradually flare outwardly toward the base of the studs. WVhen placing a blade 14 on this cap, the tabs 34 enter the grooves 44 which thereupon automatically center the blade transversely, the distance between each two oppositely located grooves at their outer ends preferably being equal to the diameter of the blade'locating studs on the said Gillette razor.

The studs 52 on the cap 50 have their outer ends wedge shaped at 54 whereby to engage the tabs ,34 and automatically center the blade placed thereon. The guard which receives the caps 40 or 50 will have through stud receiving holes of a size corresponding to the studsand when the blade is clamped between the guard and cap the tabs will be upsetor broken off, as willbe apparent.

The blade may also be considerably modified within the scope of my invention and in Figs. 9 and 10 I have illustrated two such modifications. 'From the above description it is clear that when the blade is located on the central stud 20 it is only necessary to then locate the blade transversely. This is done in Fig. 3 by providing two tabs 34 within the two blade apertures 32. This locating may also be done by placing the two tabs in one of the apertures, as in Fig. 9. This blade 60 has a central perforation 62, a large stud receiving hole 64 and a like stud receiving hole 66 with two oppositely located abs 68 extending thereinto. These two tabs will serve the purpose of locating'the blade transversely in the same manner described in reference to the blade 14. The blade 60 may also have a pair of tabs in each of the large stud receiving holes, if desired. Such a blade 70 is shown in Fig. 10.

ber, a guard member, studs on one of the members for engaging in locating holes in the other member, the members being adapted tohold a blade therebetween with the studs engaging within holes in the blade, one

of the studs being reduced toward its free I end whereby a shoulder is formed thereon and said reduced portion being adapted to locate the blade by engaging a tab extendin into the stud receiving blade aperture, an means for clamping the members together, the said shoulder being adapted to upset the tab when the blade is clamped into shaving position.

2. A safety razor comprising a cap mem-' ber, a guard member, studs ononeof the members for engaging in locating holes in the other member, the members being adapted to hold ablade the'rebetween with the studs engaging within, holes in the blade, opposite sides of one of the studs being reduced towards its free end whereby shoulders are formed on such sides and said reduced portion being adapted to locate the blade apertures, and means for clamping the members together, the said shoulders being adapted to upset the tabs when the blade is clamped into shaving position.

5. A safety razor comprising a cap, three blade locating studs"'centrally disposed in line longitudinally of and projecting outwardly therefrom, the outer studs beingtapered toward their free ends on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line t rough the cap in a manner forming oppositely disposed shoulders on the studs adjacent to their base portions, a cooperating. guard provided with three holes for receiving the studs, the studs being adapted to receive and locate a blade provided with a central stud receiving hole and two outer holes each of the latter having a tab on and extending transversely of the blade less than a radius length thereinto, and a handle threaded to the central stud for drawing the cap and guard together, the said tapered stud portions being adapted to locate the blade by, engaging the tabs and the shoulders being adapted to engage and upset the tabs when the handle clamps the blade between the cap and'guard.

y 6. A safety razor comprising a cap having blade locating studs projectingtherefrom 

